HBA-LJP H.B. 1716 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1716 By: Puente Higher Education 7/20/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under state law, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is a medical school that provides biomedical education, training, and research, and The University of Texas at San Antonio is a general academic institution of higher education. Sharing biological and biomedical resources between these institutions may provide a bridge from undergraduate to graduate work for life sciences students. House Bill 1716 creates and establishes the San Antonio Life Science Institute to develop joint degree programs and joint research programs in the life sciences. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1716 amends the Education Code to authorize the board of regents of The University of Texas System (board) to establish and maintain the San Antonio Life Sciences Institute (institute), as a joint partnership of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (health science center) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). The bill requires the institute to specialize in the research and teaching of life sciences and to develop joint degree programs and joint research programs for the health science center and UTSA. The bill authorizes the institute to accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of the program and to develop or use land, buildings, equipment, facilities, and other improvements in connection with the program. The bill requires the institute to seek private, local, and federal funding to support the operation and management of the institute. The bill also requires the institute to retain all indirect costs received or recovered under a grant or contract. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the administration of the institute, the joint appointment of faculty and other personnel, and the salary of persons receiving a joint appointment. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.